RileyisSmiley

Also while I was changing the sheets another kid asked me what I was doing and just said she spilt water is there a better way to approach this?

@hppygr8ful can you give me feedback about how I handled the situation since I also feel like I work in a place where I can’t ask for advice and get constructive criticism. So I got back to the unit and pulled the patient aside who was in the dining area lounging around. I asked her “hey, it’s not a big deal if you did, but did you pee in the bed last night?” At this point she began tearing up and I said “you’re not in trouble for having an accident it just happens sometimes I just want to get you cleaned up.” She then asked why it happened and I responded that there are many reasons. She then asked if this meant she was getting worse which is what I really stumbled through. I said something like “well what happens during the day and night are connected to an extent, but during the day you make choices and what happened at night wasn’t an choice.” She then stated that only little kids wet the bed and I responded “that’s not correct. People of all ages have accidents at some point in their lives. It wasn’t your fault.” At this point I asked her to come back to her room with me and told her she needed to shower since urine could cause burns and put on fresh clothes. While she showered I put the wet linens and wet pajamas into a bag as is policy at our facility and she asked me if I was going to tell anyone. I stated “this stays between us don’t worry.” She then stated that he was really sorry. I told her “you don’t need to apologized I signed up for his.” She asked if it would happen again and I said “we have no way to know that. But if it does happen again just let a staff member know.” She asked how to do that and I stated “just go to the nurses station and quietly whisper that you wet yourself.” What could I have done better since there was definitely some awkwardness.

@hppygr8ful I haven’t actually done anything yet since the charge nurse said not to and now the kids are throughout the unit. Right now I’m on my break but when I go back I plan on asking the charge nurse if I can do something This is not the highest acuity. Patient is here for depression, but very independent. Can perform all ADL’s independently normally. We were actually discussing why this might have happened since has not had any changes to her medications. Any ideas? I’m not sure if I should call parents since that may embarrass patient more

Hello all I hope you are having a great thanksgiving- for those working I feel ya. So I’m a newish nurse working on a child and adolescent psych ward. Reading @Emmeline22 recent post I actually gained some new perspectives from seasoned nurses and think that the charge nurse today was out of line. Today while doing morning safety checks (a tech and I walk through all the rooms to check that there isn’t anything dangerous) I noticed that one of the rooms belonging to a 16 y/o F patient smelled like urine. Upon inspecting the linens it was clear that they were wet and under her bed I found a pair of wet pajamas, underwear and a T-shirt. After finishing all the rounds I updated my charge nurse on what I had found and told her that while the kids were still in morning group I was going to go discreetly change the linens and get the girls clothing in the wash, then after group discreetly tell the girl “I changed your sheets and your clothes are in the wash. If this ever happens again feel free to tell us if you need clean sheets.” I was also going to offer for her to take a shower as the kids are only usually allowed to shower during the evening. My charge nurse told me that I shouldn’t do this with the rational being that at 16 she needed to learn how to advocate for her own needs. I totally agree that this should be a goal of hospitalization, however, I can only imagine how embarassed this girl would be having woken up and discovered that she was wet. I then asked the charge nurse how long to give her and she said “until she finds the courage to speak up for herself.” I just disagree with this but maybe I’m being unreasonable? I’ve now also missed the mark for discretion as the kids are throughout the ward and this patient shares a room. WWYD?